Local Sons of Italy Lodge celebratates century of community involvement

LOCK HAVEN - As they say in Italian ... Salute!

You may hear that word a lot today, the biggest day in 100 years at the Lock Haven Sons of Italy Lodge.

One-hundred years ago today, The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania chartered the Loggia Giosue Carducci Lodge No. 146.

And, lodge officials and members are celebrating it in grand style tonight with a 100th Year Celebration at the three-story lodge at 1 N. Henderson St.

"We had 30 original members. We needed 25 at the time to activate a charter," current Lock Haven Lodge Venerable Dennis Caprio said in reviewing the lodge's history.

The lodge has grown significantly over the last 100 years, with 275 current members, who must be of Italian descent or married to a spouse with Italian descent, and about 800 social members.

"The Sons of Italy started in 1905 for a gathering of Italian-Americans in the United States," Caprio said, noting it was officially called the Order of the Sons of Italy in American, or OSIA, and was billed as a mutual aid society of the day.

"Many Italians came here as immigrants, and many were uneducated and felt like they had no where else to go for social events," Caprio said. "At the same time, there were the 'undesirables,' those who were thought to be with the mob or mafia and they wanted to show there was a desirable element of Italians in America. And, they sought a place to meet with each other and speak their language, until they all learned English.

"They saw a little bit of unity and wanted to have an impact with the country," he added.

The Lock Haven lodge was born not long after the Grand Lodge, gaining its charter on Feb. 23, 1913.

"They first met in people's homes and later they had a room in the old Martin Theatre on Main Street in Lock Haven," Caprio said. "In the late 1930s, they bought this building here."

However, he noted, the original wood building burned down, with the lodge building the current stately, three-floor facility in the city's old "coast section."

Throughout the years, the Sons has grown into not only a gathering place for Italian-Americans, but has evolved into a strong, community-minded organization, giving its members' time, effort and money into many worthwhile causes. The bulk of the local lodge's funds are generated by sales at its bar-restaurant, through investment earnings and its annual "Gun and Games" fundraiser in July.

Perhaps the most notable benevolence are the Sons of Italy's spaghetti dinners, where members provide all the food (including homemade sauce and meatballs) and manpower, and the civic and charitable organizations they host receive all profits generated. Dinners are typically done nine times a year and are normally reserved months in advance by organizations like the Ross Library, the Piper Museum and the Clinton County Special Olympics, Caprio said.

In addition, the lodge provides $1,000 scholarships to eligible students who are children of members, it feeds the Lock Haven University Boxing Team after its main team dual at Thomas Field House annually, it donates to Central Mountain High School sports teams, and has sponsored the Lock Haven Little League since 1946.

As a matter of fact, five of the nine members of the Lock Haven Little League world championship team were Sons' members, with a large pennant from the championship season in 1948 hanging proudly in the lodge's third floor banquet room, donated by the late "Bud" Beers.

In addition, Caprio noted, the lodge continues its tradition of having an annual Columbus Day Party, provides gifts for children with its annual Children's Christmas Party, conducts the annual "Guns and Games" at the lodge's sprawling campground along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River off of Route 120 north of Lock Haven each July, and donates to many area nonprofits.

From its beginnings as a gathering place 100 years ago today, it now boasts a membership that includes area business people and those in many walks of life, he said.

And it's probably no coincidence that the lodge is located next to the railroad tracks as many Italian-Americans worked for the railroad during its bygone days.

Caprio has been with the local lodge since 1957. He served as its venerable from 1966 to 1985 before being elected to yet another term in 2011, expiring later this year.

"The days I remember are coming in as a young fellow with my grandfather (Anthony) Caprio and he would read The Express in Italian," he said.

Through the 56 years he has been a member, Caprio said he has gained a lot of personal growth and an lot of opportunities he would have never have had, and noted those same benefits are available for all who join the lodge.

The lodge's most senior member is Anthony Chiumenti of Avis.

Part of the OSIA's creed reads, "We believe in the government of the United States of America as the government of the people, by the people, and for the people and promise to obey and uphold its Constitution and laws. We believe in government by orderly process and reject any doctrine that tends to subvert constituted government and authority. We believe in filial affection and respect for the land of our forefathers whose heritage is our highest contribution to America's progress. We believe in the brotherhood of man and promise to assist our fellow members, to care for the orphans, to extend our helping hand to the widows and to comfort all those in distress."

The lodge is governed by a local board of 15 members. Besides Caprio, officers are: Bill Sanders, vice president; Joe Sanders Jr., orator; Steve Acquino, treasurer; Mike Barzona, financial secretary, soon to be Scott Moore; Keith Duvall, recording secretary; Lou Santonico, historian; Steve Tasselli, guard; Perry Walker and Craig Miller, masters of ceremony, and trustees Dan Villelo, Ken Fisher, Tom Walker, Bill Sementelli and Dave Peluso.

To celebrate the 100-year milestone, the lodge will host a gathering of members and guests in its second-floor banquet room from 6 to 7 tonight, with a dinner to follow and several speakers, including local member Joseph "Satch" Sanders, who is also currently the Pennsylvania Sons of Italy second vice president.

A dance for all members and guests will kick off at 9 p.m., Caprio said.

"I think we are all very proud of our accomplishments and the vision to start the organization and then have it be maintained over the years," he said. "We have had a lot of accomplishments over the last 100 years and a lot of community involvement."

"It's all about giving back to the community," Duvall said. "We just do it, but we are one of the quietest organizations in the area. But, for being around for 100 years, we can boast about ourselves."